Rotary marking device



April 13,v 1954 c. E. HoPwooD ET Ax. 2,674,941

ROTARY MARKING DEVICE Filed Sept. 20. 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet l April 13, 1954 c. E. HoPwooD E-rAx. 2,674,941

' ROTARY MARKING DEVICE Filed sept. 20. 1947 5 sheets-sheet 2 M harias E' Kajal/00d zzobffLf/fmlale Aitor/uy April 13, 1954 c. E. HoP'wooD ET AL 2,674,941

ROTARY MARKING DEVICE Filed Sept. 20. 194'? l 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 'mlm v Inl/emr@ L Charles EHopu/ood a Robert L. Wlnkkfr.

A -Aorney April 13, 1954 c. E. HoPwooD ETAL I 2,674,941

I ROTARY MARKING DEVICE Filed sept. 2o. 1947 *of 5 sheets-sheet 4 .Ju g' IH l I 25 F O Z7 I j /W' 6.' i?

L? ff I Z553 446-.: fsa/' L- i@ J6, y? f4 ff ZZ 4'? gf f4 harias E'. Hopa/00d ,ivf/@WW April 13, 1954 c. E. HOPWOOD ET AL 2,674,941

ROTARY MARKING DEVICE Filed Sept. 20. 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventar@ and harley ,E Hap u/aod @if @QM Patented Apr. 13, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROTARY MARKING DEVICE Application September 20, 1947, Serial No. 775,196

3 Claims.

This invention relates in general to a marking device, and more particularly to a device for printing desired items of information, such as heat numbers, specication data, trade-marks, etc., at predetermined spaced intervals on continuous steel strip or other material being delivered at considerable speed by a rolling mill to a winding machine.

Heretofore it has been a usual practice to mark or stamp metal sheet or strip manually and subsequent to its removal from the mill. The possibilities or errors and of unevenly spaced markings by this method are evident, and it is also unduly wasteful of time and labor for the lange tonnages produced in modern continuous mills.

One object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a device for marking flat metal sheet or strip with indelible identifying letters, numbers or symbols.

Another object is a device for automatically marking sheet or strip as it issues from a rolling mill onto a coiling device.

Another object is a continuous marking device with a dependable and even inking mechanism.

Another object is a light and simple marking device which may be adjusted either vertically or transversely at will.

Still other objects, purposes and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter in the specication and in the appended claims.

In the annexed five sheets o drawings, forming a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device mounted upon the roll housing of a'. four-high skin pass mill, and showing the matter of printing upon strip while the latter is being coiled.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing the pneumatic control arrangement;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the printing mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal horizontal section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section of the print and drive wheels, taken on the line 6-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. '7 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line 'I-l of Fig. 6, showing the -print ywheel in side elevation;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal vertical section through the ink reservoir, taken on the line 8--8 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

(Cl. IOL-212) Fig. 10 is a fragmentary .top -plan view of the print wheel, showing the stamp insert in place;

Fig. 11 is a .transverse vertical detail section of the pivoted retracting link; and

Fig. 12 is a transverse detail section showing the means for laterally adjusting the position of the printing device on the lower pivot shaft.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the reference numeral I designates the roll housings of a lconventional four-high mill, having a pair of working rolls 2 each provided with a backing roll 3. The sheet or strip 4 which is being coiled is drawn between the working rolls 2 and |beneath the idle .press roll 5 on the delivery side onto the tension reel or drum 6 on thefloor 'I adjacent thereto. Firmly bolted on said roll housings I above the level of the press roll 5 are supporting bracketsv 8, shown in Fig. 3, in which the setscrews 9 hold a lower pivot shaft I0 between the housings. Other brackets II bolted at a higher level on said housings I support an upper pivot shaft I2 in like manner. v

Pivotallymounted on saidlower shaft I0, as shown in Fig. 12, by means of a pair of bushings I3 and an end-threaded spacing sleeve I4 having a pressure lubricating fitting I5 and retaining nuts It, are a pair of vertically disposed plates I1 held in spacedparallel relation by the three spreaders I8, said plates I1 constituting the side frame members of the printing device. Sliding ycollars I9 having set-screws 20 permit the transverse adjustment and fastening of the printing device at any desired pla-ce on said shaft I0.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7, between the side frame plates I'I a print wheel (or wheels) 2I, of such diameter as to space the imprint at the desired intervals, and preferably of cast aluminum or other light metal, is keyed upon a rotatable shaft 22 journaled in bearings 23 mounted between the oil seals 24 in frustoconical housings 25 bolted upon said sideframe plates I1. Referring also to Fig. 10, in a recess 26 in the peripheral edge or rim 2'I of the print wheel 2I there is mounted a metal stamp holder 28, secured by a pair of wedges 29 bolted together, and holding a removable rubber stamp insert 30 with the desired inscription. Also mounted on the print wheel 2| are counterweights 3l, of lead or other similar metal, suitably 4proportioned and located to afford static balance to the print wheel 2I with the stamp insert 30 in place.

mounted the drive wheels 33 and 34, their webs 35 ybeing preferably dished or coned so as to slope UponY extending tapered portions 32 of the shaft, 22 projecting beyond the bearing housings 25 are inward from their hubs 36 to the rims 31 as shown in Fig. 6, and said hubs 3B being secured by lock washers 38 and jam nut 39 on the threaded extremities of ythe shaft 22. Said drive wheels 33 and 34 have approximately .the same diameter as the print wheel, and are provided with rubber tires 49 mounted on the rims 31, which tires are kept thereon by retaining rings 4l bolted to the rims and receive their driving traction |by contact with the moving sheet or strip 4 being marked. The drive wheel 34 also has a. large sprocket 42 `bolted upon a projecting por-tion 43 of its hub 36. Grease or other similar lubricant is supplied to the bearings 2'3 by means of the pressure fittings 44.

Referring now to Figs. 4, 5, 8 and 9, a metal receptacle 45 partially iilled with ink-soaked cctton waste 45 and functioning as an ink reservoir is removably secured between the side frame plates I1 by means of thumb .screws 41. An ink-collecting roller 48, preferably of cast aluminum alloy or the like, is mounted on a shaft 49 journaled in bearings 50 having oil seals 5I and enclosed in housings 52 bolted on the side frame plates i1. End covers 53 and 54 mounted on said housing 52 protect the .bearings 59 from dirt and grit, and a small sprocket 55 is keyed to the end S of the shaft 4S projecting through the end cover 54. The sprockets 42 and 55 are operatively connected together by means of an endless roller chain 51. As shown in Fig. 8, a felt pad 58 retained by a clip 59 on the bottom of a cover plate 60 fulcrumed on the inner upper lip 6l of the receptacle 45 contacts the ink roller 48 to distribute the ink uniformly and to remove excess ink. Downward pressure from a compression spring |52 which is adjustable by means of a wing nut G3 and washer B4 on a long upright carriage bolt .S5 brazed to the bottom of the ink receptacle 45 holds the pad 58 and cover plate 59 in place.

Intermediately disposed between the print wheel Zland the ink wheel 48 and engaging both said wheels is an ink-spreading roller 66, having a rubber tire 61 which transfers a lthin film of marking fluid from the ink roller 48 to the type surface on the print wheel 2l. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, said roller 66 is secured by setscrews 68 on a shaft 69 journaled in bearings 'iii having oil seals 1l and enclosed in housings 12 having end covers 13. Said housings 12 are mounted on side pivot arms 14, each arm having on its other end an adjusting screw 15 and a lon` gitudinally disposed slot '18. The adjusting screw 15 is threaded through the pivot arm 14 into a pivot block 11 in the slot 16, which block 11 pivots on a stud 18, the side plates I1 being provided with a vertical slot 19 allowing movement of the shaft 69 therein. Said side plates also 'have a bottom cut-away portion 8i! to allow for clearance of the press-roll 5. Studs 8i and 82, on each side on the pivot arm 14 and side plate I 1 respectively, are connected by a tension Vspring 83 which maintains the contact pressure between the rollers while permitting adjustments of the thickness of the nlm of marking fluid.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, the device can be retracted for clearance while threading under it the material .to .be marked, or be raised as the coil increases in diameter, or receive an increase or decrease in marking pressure, by means of a Atwo-way air vcylinder 84, which cylinder is pivotallyconnected to the upper pivot shaft `I2 and has Ya piston rod 85 pivotally connected to the .top spreader I8 as shown in Fig. l1. A conduit B supplies air under pressure to the four-way valve 31, which directs the inlet air either to the upper pipe S8 and hose 89 or to the lower pipe and hose el in order to admit air to the desired end of the cylinder, and also releases the exhaust air to the atmosphere.

The present device can be adjusted transversely so as to mark the material at any point across its width. If it is desired to imprint more than one mark across the width of the material, two or more print wheels with their attached drive wheels, marking fluid rolls, etc., each supported on its own frame, can be mounted on the lowerl pivot shaft Hl. The various print wheels, in this case, can be synchronized to maintain a set spacing between the imprints along the length of the strip material by means of a chain and sprocket drive from each print wheel to the common pivot shaft Ill, which can be arranged in an understood manner to rotate freely in con ventional bearings in the lower supporting brackets 8.

Although we have shown and described our invention hereinabove in considerable detail, we do not wish to be limited narrowly to the exact and specic structure and arrangements stated, but we may also use suchsubstitutes, modifications, or equivalents thereof as are within the scope and spirit of the invention and of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention in accordance with statute, what we claim as new and useful and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. In a device for marking sheet or strip, the combination with a supporting member, of a pair of horizontal pivot shafts mounted in vertically spaced relation on said supporting member, a pair of side frame members pivotally mounted on the lower pivot shaft, a shaft ro tatably J'ournaled between the side frame members, a print wheel and friction drive wheels mounted on said shaft, a spreader connecting the -tops of theside frame members, a two-way air cylinder pivotally connected to the upper pivot shaft and having a piston rod pivotally connected to the spreader, a source of iluid pressure, and conduit and valve means adapted to direct said fluid pressure alternatively either to the upper or the lower end of the cylinder and simultaneousiy to exhaust fluid pressure from the opposite end of said cylinder.

2. In a device for marking sheet or strip, the

combination with a supporting member, of a pair.

of horizontal pivot shafts mounted in vertically spaced relation on said supporting member, a sleeve slidably mounted on the lower pivot shaft, Side frame members secured at each end of the sleeve, adjustable collars abutting said sleeve on the lower pivot shaft, a `print wheel jcurnaled in said side frame members, and a fiuid pressure cylinder slidably mounted on the upper pivot shaft and having a piston rod pivotally connected to the frame.

3. In a .device for marking sheet or strip, the combination with a supporting member, of a pair of horizontal pivot shafts mounted in vertically spaced relation on said supporting member, a pair of spaced bushings on the lower pivot shaft, an end-threaded sleeve encircling said bushings, a lubricating tting on said sleeve, side frame members at each end of the sleeve, side frame member retaining nuts on each end of the sleeve, laterally slidable .collars having set-screws and abutting the retaining nuts on said lower pivot shaft, a print wheel and friction drive wheels 5 6 rotatably journaled in said side frame members, Number Name Date and an air cylinder siidably mounted on the 1,164,730 L'eary Dec. 21, 1015 upper pivot shaft and having a piston rod piv- 1,945,625 Aldinger et al. Feb. 6, 1934 otaliy connected to the frame. 2,138,142 Dietrich Nov. 29, 1938 5 2,173,875 Boyd Sept. 26, 1939 References Cited in the file of this patent 2,253,153 Worthington Aug, 19, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,284,094 Jordan May 26, 1942 Number Name Date 2,330,359 H111 Sept. 28, 1943 2,358,674 Weber Sept. 19, 1944 423,394 Saxton Mar' 1]." 1890 2 426 564 Peterson Au 26 1947 887,730 Lee May 12, 1908 1 g' 978,839 Bremer Dec. 20, 1910 

